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Virgil Trucks Dies: Tigers Legend Passes Away, Aged 95

Port St. Lucie, FL. – Virgil Trucks, the former Detroit Tigers pitcher, has died at his home in Calera, Alabama. He was 95.

Trucks passed away on Saturday after being admitted to hospital on Thursday morning with what doctors said was pneumonia. He is survived by five children, several grand- and great-grandchildren and his fourth wife, Elizabeth Ann.

Virgil Trucks remains the only Tigers pitcher other than Justin Verlander to throw two no-hitters. He achieved the feat in 1952, a year in which the Tigers finished eighth in the American League.

His 17-year career in the big leagues saw Trucks play for four teams, though daughter Carolyn told The Detroit News, “He used to say he played with the Detroit Tigers and four other teams.”

Reflecting on the loss of one of the finest pitchers in Tigers history, club president and general manager Dave Dombrowski added:

“[Virgil was] a fine gentleman. I really, really enjoyed his company. I’ve had the chance to talk to him on the phone, throughout the time period. He did come up to Detroit one time. And he recently did call me, within the last month when we were in Spring Training.”

Virgil ‘Fire’ Trucks’ wrapped up his career with a commendable 177-135 mark (114-96 from his 12 seasons with Detroit) and a 3.39 ERA. In total throughout his career, Trucks pitched almost 2,700 innings, striking out 1,534 batters.

Do any of our readers have memories of watching Virgil? Feel free to share them in the comments! Alternatively, you can listen to one of Virgil’s last ever interviews below (from, I believe, 2011).